Colby Covington, never one to shy away from controversy, targeted Shavkat Rakhmonov. Known for his outspoken style, the former interim welterweight champion is welcoming Rakhmonov’s undefeated 18-0 record Covington, who has been on hiatus since his loss to Leon Edwards at UFC 296, is back in the spotlight with his signature trash talk. As the welterweight division sees a shift in power, Covington’s latest comments have stirred the pot, especially in light of Belal Muhammad’s recent competitive uptick.
Covington downplays Rakhmonov’s record
Currently ranked third in the welterweight division, Shavkat Rakhmonov boasts a flawless record with all wins coming via finishes. His impressive stats include an 83% submission rate and a 17% KO/TKO rate. Despite these accolades, Covington remains unimpressed. In a recent interview with Submission Radio, he raved about Rakhmonov, saying that his perfect record is filled with victories over lesser-known opponents. Covington criticized Rakhmonov’s fighting style, saying, “Fights too long, too hard, and his chin is in the air… almost knocked over by a bus boy… he gives a floral tribute to Geoff Neal.”
Covington spoiled Rakhmonov’s recent victories, including a bout with ninth seed Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. “He’s finished a lot of nobodies, some jabronies from the amateur Indian casinos,” Covington said, dismissing Rakhmonov’s advances and questioning the validity of his aspirations for a title shot
Another development in the welterweight division
Covington’s bold statement comes at a crucial time for the welterweight division. At UFC 304, Belal Muhammad made history by defeating Leon Edwards via unanimous decision, becoming the first UFC champion of Palestinian descent. Following that victory, Rakhmonov called up Muhammad, setting the stage for a potential big-stakes match. But the recent criticism of Covington adds an element of interest and controversy, which can complicate the approach to the topic.
Daniel Cormier’s thoughts on Covington’s future
While Covington expresses disdain for Rakhmonov’s credentials, his own standing in the department remains tenuous. After failing to win a dubious welterweight title in three attempts, Covington finds himself with wide options. Recent losses to Edwards and injuries that emerged after the fight put him in a state of shock. Former double champion and UFC commentator Daniel Cormier weighed in on the Covington situation. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Cormier advised Covington to reconsider his approach, especially since he turned down a fight with rising star Ian Gary. “Colby can’t say or try to say who gets a title fight right now because of the way he lost to Leon Edwards and the way he fought,” Cormier said. “He doesn’t seem to want to fight Ian Gary. I think maybe he should back off and just not really say much until another fight is on its way.”
The way forward
There are a ton of intriguing storylines and matches in the welterweight class, with Shavkat Rakhmonov challenging Belal Muhammad for the championship and Muhammad ruling as the new champion. Because of his candidacy, Covington will always make headlines, but more than words will determine whether he stays in the UFC. Only time will tell if Covington can match his words of hard work in the octagon with tangible results, or if he will sit it out as fresh competitors fight for attention.
